My Testimony

[ibreakdrumsticks]

About Rene and Amber

I was born on October 20, 1984 in Panama, City Panama. My Dad was in the air force so when I was really young we moved to Miami, Florida. Sadly, my parents divorced when I was 5 years old. My mom began attending Sunset Chapel Assembly of God in Miami, Florida. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit at age 11 during a camp trip to Pensacola, Florida with a Christian organization called the Royal Rangers through the Assembly of God denomination (Assemblies of God (USA) Official Web Site). I was raised in the Church, but after my family moved to Virginia, I had to find my own faith. After a year of living for myself, at age 16 I recommitted my life to Christ at an Acquire the Fire youth event held by Teen Mania Ministries in Baltimore, Maryland. My life was never the same.

I began to feel the the Holy Spirit tugging me into the ministry. As I began serving faithfully at Elijah Gate Christian Center for nearly 3 years. The Lord branded my life with an extraordinary desire to see the lost come to Christ. During this time, I started a Bible Club at my high school where nearly 300 students came to Christ throughout the school year. It was amazing!

I began attending revival services all around the northwest region of the United States searching for more of the raw power and manifest presence of God. My desire for more of God's Kingdom led me into the mission field. I could hear the GO of the Gospel! I served on a inner city missions trip to the Bronx, New York with Evangelist, Todd Bentley of Fresh Fire Ministries (Fresh Fire Ministries). I began experiencing angelic encounters, prophetic visions and revelation as well as a holy desperation from the Lord that kept me so hungry for more of Jesus. I also began hanging out with Lou Engle of The Call (TheCall ) I was overtaken by a spirit of prayer and intercession. I learned to pray and fast and worship for real. I cherish this time because I know that it is only a taste of what the Lord has in store for me.

After meeting my first wife, Cori, I was so disappointed to find out that she cheated on me while she was pregnant with my son Vincent. I learned that being a Christian meant holding on to your faith even when your world falls apart. God turned it around. Because of this trial, the Lord brought my family closer together than ever. I really love my Mom, sisters, aunts, cousins, grandparents, and we are all really close. It also reminded me that Jesus never leaves us nor forsakes us. After pulling away for the ministry for around 2 years, God completely restored me. I had some inner healing to go through. I learned who I am, a son of God. I learned to be not just do. I let the Lord deliver me of fear, shame, and rejection. I am not ashamed of my past because I know God will use it to minister to others who have been through the storms of life. I can stand and run into the arms of my Savior and Daddy because I know how much He loves me. I share joint custody with my ex wife. I love my son Vincent Paul Picota. I am a very proud Father.

After this season in my life was over, I felt the Lord calling me back into the ministry because I was not about to allow the devil to steal the destiny God had instore for me. The good work which Christ had done in me was going to completed (Philippians 1:6). I was holding on to the Word of the Lord and working the Word until it finally manifested in my life. After much prayer and fasting and wisdom from many Pastors and leaders in my life, I launched Pray 4 Revival Youth Ministries and began traveling as a guest speaker ministering to hundreds of teens across Arizona. I came in contact with Pastor Kenny May from Eventsource Ministries and joined the labor his ministry was doing in Mexico and Northern Arizona. I began an internship with EventSource Ministries (Eventsource Ministries - Christian Youth Event Specialists) developing an incredible friendship with Pastor Kenny, his wife Niki and their three children. I took a total of nine mission trips with EventSource Ministries. Pastor Kenny is my spiritual father.

While I was on one of the mission trips, the Lord pressed on my heart to join a Christian dating website which is where I met my wife Amber. Amber, 23 grew up in Paris, Texas. After living a worldly lifestyle during her teen years, she was radically saved and set on fire for Jesus and baptized in the Holy Spirit at the age of 21. She serves teaches Sunday School at Leslie Chapel Church. Amber went on a mission's trip to Mexico with me, where we got engaged on the Sea of Cortez. It was very romantic, the happiest moment of my life. I love my wife very dearly.

After my internship was up, I moved to Paris, Texas. I had found my wife and it was a very good thing! I got to know Amber's family, Church family and just recently married this past September. We reside in Paris, Texas. Amber has a 2 year old named Joseph whom I has taken as my own. She is in College finishing up her basics to she can continue on pursuing her degree in Christian Counseling. I am not one for titles, because God has called me to be nameless and faceless. I want people to see Jesus in and through me. However, I did take a Graphic Arts and Animation Course at High Tech Institute of Phoenix.

When I am not at Church you can find me creating websites and using my graphic design skills or sipping away at my other passion, a Double Tall White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks.

My passion is to see this generation set free, healed and saved by the power of God. I long see them walk in the reality of an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit so that they can walk in the God given authority they have in Jesus Christ to fulfill the Great Commission. This generation needs to be awakened out of spiritual death and religious complacency. It is our duty to call them into their individual purpose and corporate responsibility as an offensive army imposing the Kingdom of God.

Amber and I are both are very humbled by God's sustaining grace and we give Jesus all the glory for all that we have been through because what determines who we are is not our past but our identities in Jesus Christ.

[fashionlover01]

This is a breath taking testamony. God defiently has big plans for you. I am gl;ad that things are working out for you. I can tell that you are on fire for God. Your faith is amazing. God is going to use you in many brilliant ways, and he has already used you in a lot of cool ways. You are an amazing person and I am glad I got to hear your testamony. Keep doing the great things that you are doing.